Beacon Lesson Plan Library

Hoops! There It Is!

Dianne Parks

Description

Students will view and discuss the use of voice in writing through the in-your-face, aggressive, powerful messages of the Nike advertisements and the book HOOPS as examples of the intensity words can have and how voice is expressed.

Objectives

The student uses creative writing strategies appropriate to the format (for example, using appropriate voice; using descriptive language to clarify ideas and create vivid images; using elements of style, such as appropriate tone).

The student writes for a variety of occasions, audiences, and purposes (for example, letters to persuade or request, humorous or suspenseful stories to entertain, instructions to inform).

Materials

- A copy of the book titled HOOPS by Robert Burleigh, published by Silver Whistle, Harcourt Brace & Company, 1997.
- Examples of Nike advertisements and slogans from magazines, newspapers, and commercials (or any easily recognized company)
- Chart paper
- Markers

Preparations

1. Obtain a copy of HOOPS by Robert Burleigh, published by Silver Whistle/Harcourt Brace & Company.
2. Put up one large sheet of chart paper.
3. Get markers.

Procedures

1. Ask students, -What is 'Got Milk'?- Listen to student responses. Focus in on the responses that refer to slogan, advertisement, or commercial.

2. Discuss what slogans, advertisements, and commercials do.

3. Show the Nike advertisements. Discuss what the Nike advertisements are doing.

4. Have the students generate a list of words that describe the voice or tone of the advertisements.

5. Ask students, -What is the message that is being sold? How is it created with words?- Accept reasonable responses.

6. Read aloud HOOPS.

7. Discuss the tone/voice of this book. Ask students, -What makes it intense?- (Focus on the words, sentence structure, and punctuation.) Then ask students, -How is the book similar to the Nike ads?-

8. Have students pick a sport of their own and write a Nike advertisement. Have students focus on the voice/tone of the piece (intense, carefree, age-specific, etc.).

9. As students work, circulate through the room offering feedback and praise on student's work.

10. Once students complete their work, assess using the rubric (see attached file). As an option, prior to students turning in their work, students could share their work and comment on each others slogan.

Assessments

Each student picks a sport of their own and writes a Nike advertisement about it by focusing on the voice/tone of the piece. A rubric will be used as a formative assessment of the student's learning.